NHL Rumors: Adrian Kempe’s $85M benchmark emerges in Alex Tuch contract chatter amid Sabres uncertainty

The Buffalo Sabres are facing an important contract decision with forward Alex Tuch. He is in the last year of his 7-year, $33,250,000 contract and can sign an extension. Tuch has been one of Buffalo’s most consistent players. He continues to produce offense and play strong two-way hockey. The team must decide how long they want to keep him.

The contract discussion has grown once again as insider Elliotte Friedman spoke about Tuch on the 32 Thoughts podcast. He said Adrian Kempe’s new contract may influence Tuch’s price. Kempe signed an eight-year deal worth $85 million with the Kings. Friedman said Tuch may look at that number as a guide.

"Getting Kempe done, that's a big deal," Friedaman said. [7:12 onwards] "And you know, I'll say something else too. Tuch's got to be looking at that Kempe deal and saying that's about my number. We'll see where Buffalo goes from here."

Alex Tuch has 16 points in 18 games this season. He has scored seven goals and recorded nine assists in that stretch. He is in his tenth NHL season and fifth with Buffalo. His best year came in 2022-23 when he had 79 points, and he has scored a career high of 36 goals twice. His career totals show growth and reliable offensive production.

Meanwhile, the Sabres are struggling this season. They hold a 6-8-4 record and sit last in their division, led by the Boston Bruins. They average 2.78 goals per game and allow 3.56, a major concern for the team. Their penalty kill is strong, but their defense needs improvement. The team has shown effort but remains inconsistent.

Alex Tuch is an important leader in the locker room, and he brings experience and plays in many situations. The Sabres must decide if a long contract makes sense. They also have young players who need future deals. So, this makes the decision more challenging.

Kempe’s new contract sets a strong market example, and Tuch may not match that number, but the comparison is fair.

Alex Tuch scored in Sabres' overtime win

Alex Tuch scored the Buffalo Sabres' first goal in their 5-4 overtime win against the Red Wings on Saturday. He forced a turnover from Moritz Seider and pushed the puck past John Gibson. The goal tied the game 1-1 in the first period, and Tuch had four shots in the game.

Buffalo came back from a 4-1 deficit to win, and Mattias Samuelsson scored the overtime winner for the Sabres. The victory ended Buffalo’s five-game losing streak, and Tuch remains an important forward for the team.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar